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GREECE, NY — A store owner at Henry’s Convenience Store shot a teenage robbery suspect in self-defense during an attempted armed robbery early Tuesday morning, according to Greece Police.
As reported by WHEC, the 17-year-old suspect entered the Denise Road store wearing a mask and pointing a firearm at the clerk. The clerk, who is a licensed pistol permit holder, responded by drawing his legally registered handgun and firing at the suspect. The teen sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and fled the scene, later found by officers on nearby Lake Avenue. A Greece police officer applied a tourniquet before the suspect was transported to Strong Hospital for surgery. He remains hospitalized under the supervision of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Police say the suspect is also connected to a prior robbery at the same location on April 26, during which he allegedly brandished a firearm and stole cash and other property. In Tuesday’s incident, officers recovered the teen’s firearm at the scene. Surveillance video from the first robbery has been shared by police to support their investigation.
Authorities praised the clerk’s lawful use of self-defense, with Deputy Chief Naser Zenelovic stating, “He used a legally registered handgun in what appears to be the defense of himself and the store.” The store owner, who was unharmed, has cooperated fully with law enforcement and declined media interviews until consulting with legal counsel. The number of shots fired during the exchange has not been disclosed.
The store has since reopened. Some local residents expressed concerns over safety in the area following two armed incidents at the same store within ten days.
Incidents like this underscore the risks faced by small business owners, particularly those working early or late hours in urban environments. Convenience stores are frequent targets for quick, armed robberies, making it crucial for store operators to consider lawful means of protection. This clerk’s calm, prepared response and subsequent cooperation with authorities provide a model of responsible defensive firearm use.
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